Finland - Early Origins History Overview
Finland Early History
According to archaeological discoveries the present territory of Finland had settlements during the Stone Age around 8500BC.The earliest people were probably hunters from the Baltic and Mainland Europe.
Pottery found which dates back to 5300BC is thought by some to indicate that some settlers who spoke the Finno Ugric language had populated the area. This dialect is historically associated primarily with Estonian and Hungarian. However Russian and Serbian also fall into this category. There are agricultural records suggesting that the eastern areas of the country were farmed in 300 BC. Some experts believe this was due to the visitors beginning settle in the country between 1500 BC and this time. The earliest written documentation of these settlements is dates back to the 13th century.
In 1155 The Swedish King 'Eric' conquered Finland but his country did conquer it completely until 1249. The imposition of Swedish rule introduced the 'Swedish Language' into the country and it was the official language of the middle class authorities. Finnish remained a dialect of rural and poorer areas.
Finland like its Swedish rulers became a Lutheran State during the 16th century. This modernisation led to the establishment of a legal system, the principal of education for all citizens and the Swedish development of several towns into cities.
During the next two centuries the Swedish Empire endeavored to move its borders eastward it became embroiled in battles with Russian armies, who twice ion the first half of the 18th century occupied Finland.
In 1809 Finland was occupied by the Russians and declared as an autonomous state under Russian rule. The new state promoted traditional Finnish culture, especially the Finnish language - which in 1892 became equal in status to the previously official language of Swedish. In 1906 it became the second country in the world to give all citizens the vote. This is thought by some to have provoked the Russian Authorities to try and exercise more control over Finnish affairs - a policy which damaged the relationship between the two countries and fuelled Finnish Nationalism.
Finland Recent History
Following the 1917 October Revolution in Russia, Finland declared itself an independent country. The declaration was recognised by the Russian Government but the upheaval resulted in a short civil war as pro-russian factions protested unsuccessfully at their lack of political power.
In 1919 Finland elected its first president and 1920 agreed its land border with Russia. During the next two decades right wing politics influenced the Finnish way of life and relations with socialist Russia became difficult.
Finland was used as a spring board by Germany to attack Russia during WW2 before in 1944 the Fin fought a year long war to expel German forces from its Lapland region.
After the end of WW2 Finland signed Treaties with Soviet Union which gave 10% of it territory to Moscow. It continued to trade with Russia but rapidly developed political and economic ties with Western European countries. These ties helped facilitate its economy transformation to one of the worlds most advanced economies in in technological terms. Though, postwar, it was openly 'neutral' in it attitudes to issues involving the West and Russia it joined the EU in 1995. see also economic history